Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021 - ODFW
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Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
Information for July 2021, Wildlife District Outreach
Migratory and Upland Game Bird Updates
2021-2022 Migratory and Upland Game Bird seasons were adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission
on April 23, 2021. The 2021-2022 seasons are very similar to last year’s seasons (major changes listed
below). Most season opening dates are one day earlier than last year because of the calendar shift. For
example, last year the chukar season opened October 10, 2020, this year chukar season will open October
9, 2021. Setting game bird seasons in April allows the Department to publish the Game Bird Regulations
by early July.
Following is a list of major Commission adopted changes for 2021-2022 game bird seasons:
Upland Game Birds
• For most upland game birds, all aspects of the seasons (e.g. season dates, daily bag limits,
possession limits) are covered by the 2020-2025 Upland Game Bird Hunting Season Framework.
However, for some species like sage-grouse, there is a controlled hunt where the permit numbers
are determined annually based on fall population projections. Fall turkey is another season where
the hunts may be adjusted annually based on population trends or damage/nuisance issues. The
following changes were adopted by the Commission: Eastern fall turkey season will open on
September 1st in those hunt units overlapping Grant County. These units include: Murderers Creek,
Northside, Desolation, and that portion of the Heppner WMU south and east of the North Fork John
Day River. Continued nuisance and damage complaints stemming from wild turkey concentrations
in Grant County prompted this opportunity for additional harvest while the birds are still on public
land in the early fall.
• Beginning in the 2022 license season, SportsPac holders may select either a General Spring,
General Eastern Oregon Fall, or General Western Oregon Fall turkey tag. This change would also
apply to the Youth SportsPac. SportsPac sales for 2022 begin on December 1, 2021.
• Sage-grouse season length and bag limit are unchanged. Permit numbers for each Wildlife
Management Unit (WMU) will be determined in early August and adopted by Temporary Rule after
sage-grouse populations by WMU are estimated. Permit numbers are anticipated to be very
conservative, similar to 2020. Application period is July 1 – August 14
Migratory Game Birds
Mourning Dove Seasons
• The state was divided into two mourning dove hunting zones (Zone 1 & Zone 2) with zone
boundaries matching those already in use for duck, coot, and snipe seasons.
• In Zone 1, the 60-day mourning dove season was split into two periods.
o Period 1: September 1 – 30
o Period 2: November 15 – December 14
• In Zone 2, the season remains unchanged from previous seasons (September 1 – October 30).
Goose Seasons
1Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
• Eastern Oregon goose zone boundaries have been modified for the 2021-2022 hunting season.
Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, and Wasco counties will comprise the new Mid-
Columiba Zone, while the remainder of eastern Oregon (Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney,
Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties) will comprise the new
High Desert and Blue Mountains Zone.
• For counties in the Mid-Columbia Zone, the Canada goose season structure will remain unchanged
from previous seasons. However, the white (snow & Ross’s) and white-fronted (speckle-belly)
season opening date will be delayed until November 9. This delayed start allows implementation of
a NEW late season hunt period for white and white-fronted geese from February 5 – 26, 2022.
• For the High Desert and Blue Mountains Zone, goose season structures will follow those previously
used only in Klamath, Lake, Harney, and Malheur counties. This means that in Baker, Crook,
Deschutes, Grant, Jefferson, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler:
o Goose seasons will open a week earlier (concurrent with the duck season), and season splits
will occur later in the season, relative to previous seasons.
o The white and white-fronted goose seasons will be closed from late November – mid-
January, allowing a late hunting period through March 10.
Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Updates
Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations are set for two-year periods. The July 1, 2020 through
June 30, 2022 Oregon Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations were adopted at the June 12, 2020
Commission meeting.
At the June 2020 Commission meeting, the Commission decided to form working groups to look more
closely at two issues: beaver management in Oregon and trap check periods. A petition to initiate
rulemaking to permanently close beaver trapping and hunting on federally managed public lands was
denied by the Commission in the November 2020 Commission Meeting, with a direction to proceed with a
beaver management work group. In 2021 a professional facilitator was hired and the two work groups held
their first meetings in late June. Web links to view working group meetings can be found on the
Commission web page (https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/ ).
Big Game Regulation Overview and Species by Species Highlights
Big Game Regulations Development Process
2022 Big Game Hunting Regulations, will be adopted in two separate Commission meetings. Archery elk
regulations for general season and eastern Oregon controlled hunts will be adopted at the August 6, 2021
Commission meeting which will be held virtually. The remaining seasons and controlled hunt tag numbers
will be adopted at the September 17, 2021 Commission meeting which will be either virtual or held in
Salem.
2Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
General Winter Conditions
Western Oregon: Winter 2020–2021 started with temperatures and precipitation at or above average.
February saw colder than average temperatures and with higher-than-average amounts of snow. The
remainder of the winter was generally warmer and much drier than normal with snowpack melting earlier
than average across western Oregon. Areas in the Cascade Mountains that were burned during the historic
2020 fire season had reduced forage available for deer and elk through much of the winter but experienced
green-up in late winter. The remainder of western Oregon experienced normal forage conditions through
the winter but reduced snowpack and below average spring rains may negatively affect summer forage
conditions.
Eastern Oregon: Winter conditions in eastern Oregon were fairly normal through January but February was
much wetter than average. The remainder of the was winter was much drier than normal resulting in
drought declarations across eastern Oregon. Dry conditions may negatively affect summer forage
conditions. Big game species saw decent survival through the winter with no reports of major mortality
events.
Statewide: The winter of 2020–2021 was fairly normal until colder and wetter conditions occurred in
February. The late winter and spring was exceptionally dry resulting in drought declarations across the
majority of the state.
General Regulation Proposals for 2022
Cooperative Travel Management Areas
The Umatilla National Forest implemented motor vehicle use rules directing where motor vehicles can be
used on the forest. Roads open to motor vehicle use are designated on the Umatilla National Forest Motor
Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). ODFW staff are proposing to incorporate the Umatilla National Forest
MVUM as a Cooperative Travel Management Area on the Umatilla National Forest portions of the Fossil,
Heppner, Ukiah, Desolation, Mt. Emily, Walla Walla, and Wenaha units.
2022 Big Game Hunting Regulations Proposal Information
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) anticipates the “Standard” season dates for 2022
hunts are likely to be as follows: Note: Most season dates will be 1 day earlier in 2022 than in 2021.
Pronghorn (1st Centerfire Season) Aug. 13–23
Archery Deer and Elk Aug. 27–Sept. 25
Western Buck Deer and Antlerless Deer Oct. 1-Nov. 4
Controlled Buck Deer Oct. 1–Oct. 12
Eastern OR Antlerless Deer Oct. 15–23
Cascade Bull Nov. 5-11
General Coast 1st Season Nov. 12–15
General Coast 2nd Season Nov. 19–25
Rocky Mtn. Bull Elk 1st Season Oct. 26–30
Rocky Mtn. Bull Elk 2nd Season Nov. 5–13
Rocky Mtn. Antlerless Elk Nov. 19–27
3Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
Some relevant 2022 holidays that may influence season dates are:
Labor Day September 5
Thanksgiving November 24
Big Game Regulation Review
The department initiated a project to thoroughly review the Big Game Hunting Regulations, beginning with
the 2018 Regulations. Regulation changes under consideration for 2022 take into consideration the elk
population status relative to management objectives, public comments received in 2020 and 2021, and
contracted hunter opinion survey work. Hunter opinion survey reports are online at
https://myodfw.com/articles/big-game-review , along with other informational documents including:
• Controlled hunt tag tables for Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat,
and Black Bear, which include draft changes to 2022 tag numbers, deleted hunts, new hunts, etc.
• An overview of proposals for 2022 developed as part of the Big Game Regulation Review.
For 2022, seasons changes were focused primarily on the priority issue of eastern
Oregon archery elk season.
Controlled Hunt Tag Numbers Summary
Total proposed controlled hunt tag numbers for 2022 seasons (149,608) (Table 1) are an increase of 6%
from 140,254 in 2021. However, it is important to note that most of the increase is caused by the large
increase in elk controlled archery tags related to implementing controlled elk archery hunts in 13 units and
3 subunits in eastern Oregon. See Table 1 below and the attached tables for controlled hunt tag number
details for each species/hunt series.
4Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
Table 1. Summary of proposed controlled hunt tag numbers for 2021.
2021 Proposed % Change
Species Series Weapon/Type
tags 2022 tags 2020-2021
100 ALW1 43,376 42,968 -1%
Muzzleloader 2,621 2,642 1%
Bow 15,969 15,936 0%
Youth 37 107 65%
DEER
600 ALW1 7,530 8,040 6%
Youth 1,270 1,354 6%
L Premium ALW 67 67 0%
Total 70,870 71,114 0%
200 ALW1 47,764 45,674 -5%
Muzzleloader 1,958 1,936 -1%
Bow 5,639 16,775 197%
ELK
Youth 1,369 1,308 -5%
M Premium ALW1 64 64 0%
Total 56,794 65,757 14%
400 ALW1 1,422 1,443 1%
PRONGHORN
Muzzleloader 160 149 -7%
Bow 483 451 -7%
Youth 40 35 -14%
N Premium ALW1 27 27 0%
Total 2,132 2,105 -1%
500 Cali Ram 69 68 -1%
BIGHORN
Cali Ewe 10 12 17%
RM Ram 5 6 17%
Total 84 86 2%
900 29 29 0%
GOAT
ALW1
MTN
Total 29 29 0%
700 ALW1 10,163 10,258 1%
BEAR
Youth 182 204 11%
Total 10,345 10,462 1%
TOTAL 140,254 149,553 6%
1
Any Legal Weapon Season (ALW)
Species by Species Highlights
For species with controlled hunts, Deer, Elk, Pronghorn Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain
Goat, and Black Bear, the details of changes to tag numbers, deleted hunts, new hunts, etc., can be found
5Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
in the attached controlled hunt tag tables for each species which are also be available online. Controlled
hunt tag numbers are summarized in Table 1 (above).
Buck Deer – 100 Series
Attachment 1 identifies all proposed changes to Buck Deer/100 Series hunts. The majority of the proposed
changes are:
• One of the three archery buck hunts at Hart Mountain is being eliminated with the majority of the
tags shifting to one of the remaining hunts.
• Addition of five new youth buck hunts in south central units coupled with date changes for the
Warner and Interstate youth hunts. This will create a standard youth hunt season structure for these
units allowing youth to hunt an expanded time period prior to the any legal weapon buck hunt in
those units.
Antlerless Deer – 600 Series
Attachment 1 identifies all proposed changes to Antlerless Deer/600 Series hunts. The majority of the
proposed changes are:
• Increase in tags for some northwest and northeast hunts.
Elk – 200 Series
Attachment 1 identifies all proposed changes to Elk/200 Series hunts. The majority of the proposed
changes are:
• Changes to Starkey Experimental Forest elk hunts to account for the reduced elk population as
research focuses on evaluating the potential relationship between elk and deer populations.
o Remove two youth hunts with low hunter success.
o Remove archery hunt with low hunter success.
o Add one antlerless elk hunt to assist in maintaining elk populations at study objectives.
o Adjust dates of any legal weapon hunt.
• Delete two antlerless hunts that are no longer needed to manage elk damage to private lands.
• Addition of one antlerless hunt to assist in managing elk damage to private lands.
• Convert existing controlled archery elk opportunity in the Warner unit to general season.
• 12 new archery elk hunts are proposed for eastern Oregon units that would move from general
season archery elk hunting to controlled archery elk hunting. See additional information below.
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk Season
The Department is proposing to add 13 WMUs and three sub-units into controlled hunts in eastern Oregon
for the 2022 hunting regulations. This is an extension and modification of the proposal first introduced last
year that was postponed to solicit additional public input and feedback.
6Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
Under the current proposal, WMUs with concerns over current bull escapement levels, and those units with
high archery participation and harvest greater than 35% of that within controlled seasons for any legal
weapon are proposed for controlled hunts.
Remaining WMUs will continue to be managed under the existing structure, with a single general season
for remaining units statewide.
With the addition of more units into the controlled hunt structure for archery, the department is proposing
that tags only be valid within the designated area and dates allotted for each individual hunt. This would
eliminate the ability for archers to hunt general season areas with a controlled hunt tag. This change will
decrease the density of hunters within the residual general season WMUs and increase the likelihood of
hunters being able to draw their desired controlled hunt. Additionally, the change creates consistency
across all controlled elk hunts.
In addition to single WMU controlled hunts, the department is also proposing a controlled hunt structure to
include the five WMUs that encompass the Eagle Cap Wilderness. This zone hunt concept was derived
from input received through the public input process undertaken by the department in review of this year’s
regulation proposal.
Input received from the initial public outreach also highlighted a desire to develop a new opportunity for
youth to maintain a statewide archery season tag that would also be valid in all of the new proposed
controlled units. Concepts on how to achieve this request are being evaluated by staff.
In developing these proposals, the department also considered alternatives such as smaller general season
areas, general seasons with limited tags available on a first-come-first-served basis, and controlled hunts
that included larger areas. A commonly suggested, “choose your weapon” approach was also considered,
where hunters who were unsuccessful in the controlled hunt draw for a rifle tag would not be eligible to
purchase a general archery season tag. These alternatives were not moved forward as draft proposals
because they would not accomplish the department’s objectives, would create regulatory complexity and
enforcement issues, and would continue to manage archery hunting differently than rifle hunting.
The eastern Oregon archery elk regulations will be presented at the August 6, 2021 Commission meeting. If
the Commission does not modify existing archery seasons in August, reductions may occur to the proposed
controlled any legal weapon (rifle) elk tag numbers shown in Attachment 1 in order for the department to
achieve bull escapement goals.
Visit MyODFW.com at the following address to view additional data summaries and find more information
regarding the archery regulation development process: https://myodfw.com/articles/big-game-review
Pronghorn – 400 Series
Attachment 1 identifies all proposed changes to Pronghorn/400 Series hunts.
• Changes to controlled hunts for pronghorn consist of minor tag number adjustments in some hunts.
7Initial DRAFT Proposals for Public Review July 06, 2021
Bighorn Sheep – 500 Series
Attachment 1 identifies all proposed changes to Bighorn Sheep/500 Series hunts. The majority of the
proposed changes are:
• 1 Rocky Mountain bighorn hunt (Wenaha) is being added in 2022.
• 1 California bighorn hunt (Sumpter) is being deleted in 2022 due to disease affecting the herd.
Rocky Mountain Goat – 900 Series
Attachment 1 identifies all proposed changes to Rocky Mountain Goat/900 Series hunts.
• There are no changes to controlled hunts for Rocky Mountain goat.
Bear – 700 Series
Attachment 1 identifies all proposed changes to Bear/700 Series hunts. Proposed changes consist of:
• Addition of a new youth hunt (Mt Emily – Walla Walla)
• Minor tag adjustments in one hunt (South Central)
Premium Hunts
Staff are proposing no changes to Premium Hunts for 2022.
Western Gray Squirrel
Regulations for western gray squirrel seasons can be found in both the Big Game Regulations and Game
Bird Regulations. No changes are proposed for 2022 western gray squirrel seasons.
Staff are proposing the following western gray squirrel seasons for 2022:
North-central Oregon
Open Season: Sept. 15 – Oct. 31
Bag/Possession Limit: 3/6
Open Area: Hood, Metolius, Paulina, Upper Deschutes, and White River Units
Remainder of Oregon
Open Season: Sept. 1 – Nov. 15
Bag/Possession Limit: 5/15
Open Area: All units outside of the North-Central hunt area. Exception: There would continue to
be no bag limit or closed season in the portion of the Rogue Unit south of the Rogue River and
South Fork Rogue River and north of Hwy 140.
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